Netherlands bans Iranians from studying nuclear science

Friday, July 4, 2008

BRUSSELS, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The Dutch government said Friday that Iranian students are banned from approaching locations or being enrolled in study programs in the Netherlands where they might gain access to nuclear science, Radio Netherlands reported Friday.

The government specified five locations and nine academic courses which will even be out of bounds to Iranians who hold a Dutch passport. They include the Borssele nuclear power plant in southwestern Netherlands and a test reactor at Delft University of Technology.

Anyone who grants Iranians access to these facilities or who passes on nuclear knowledge to them will face prosecution.

The Dutch Education Ministry said earlier this year that the ministry had sent a letter last year to Dutch universities and research institutes urging them to be careful when teaching Iranian nationals about nuclear technology.

In response to the warning, Twente University of Technology has refused admission to all Iranian students saying it cannot guarantee that Iranians will not attend lectures on nuclear technology.

The Dutch government said the ban is based on a United Nations resolution which calls on countries to prevent the spread of nuclear knowledge to Iran.

The Netherlands is the only country so far to impose such a ban, Radio Netherlands said.

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